California Biographies
Source:
History of Napa and Lake Counties
San Francisco, Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1881
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper 2011
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
ALFRED GREEN CLARK. The subject of this sketch was born in Butler County, Ohio, November 10,
1818, and is the son of Jonathan and Catharine Jonas Clark. When he was six years of age his parents
moved to Montgomery County, Indiana, where he remained, receiving his education in the County
Seminary and in the Wabash College until seventeen years of age. In 1835, having a strong
predisposition for mercantile life, he, commenced the study of merchandising in a store in
Crawfordsville, Indiana, where he remained as apprentice and clerk for two years. He then moved to
Michigan City, La Porte County, Indiana, where, following his former occupation, he remained till the
fall of 1838. He then moved, crossing the Mississippi at Bellevue, on the first through stage from
Chicago to Galena, to Jackson County, Iowa, and there settled down to a farmer's life, which he
continued till 1844. In 1841 he cast a vote at the election which changed Iowa from a Territory to a
State. In 1844 the old mercantile spirit took possession of him, and he sold out his farm to settle in the
town of Andrew, where he remained in the merchandising business till June, 1849. In that year the
"golden pictures " of California caused him to turn his steps westward. The winter, however, stopped
him at Council Bluffs, and there he remained till May 20, 1850, when he again took up his march
towards the setting sun. He crossed the plains by the northern route and arrived at the Dalles, Oregon,
where he sold his teams, and by means of a small boat proceeded to the Cascades. There they took
passage on the " Columbia," a steamer of such diminutive size that it became his duty to roll a barrel of
flour from side to side of the little boat, and thus "trim ship." At New Astoria he took passage on board
the steamer "Panama" for San Francisco, at which place he arrived September 29, 1850. His first
business transaction in California, after seeing his family comfortably located in a hotel, was to borrow
$30, and then commenced to look around for something to do by which he could earn a few dollars.
Seeing that, though he had served no apprenticeship, he was a better workman than the so-called
carpenters of those days, he went to work as master workman in carpentering. But two weeks found
him with funds enough on hand to repay the loan and carry him through to the mines, his objective
point from the day he left the town of Andrew, Iowa. Leaving San Francisco, he went to Woods Creek,
and mined with good success. His success was such that after six weeks mining, he returned to San
Francisco, and moved with his family to Corte Madera, Marin County, where he helped to erect two
sawmills. In January, 1852, he returned to San Francisco, purchased an interest in Port Orford City from
Captain Tichenor, and on the 23d day of January embarked with the captain on the steamer "Sea Gull"
for the purpose of viewing his new purchase, and on the 25th of that month arrived at Humboldt Bay.
On the morning of the 26th they steamed away from Humboldt, and, attempting to pass over the bar
at low-water and a rough sea, they met with the usual consequence - a totally wrecked vessel. Mr.
Clark had on board a large supply of groceries and provisions, of which he was fortunate enough to
save a comparatively large amount, only to have the greater portion thereof stolen by wreckers. He
was taken across the beach to Bucksport, and then erected the first dwelling-house in what is now the
city of Eureka. He then engaged in the lumber business, which he followed successfully until May,
1855. He then tried mining again, first in Cottonwood. Siskiyou County, then with a party prospected
Hungry and Beaver Creeks, Four of the prospecting party laid out the town of Soda City. There, two
pack-trains, accompanied by fifty miners, coming in, drew down upon the place a large band of hostile
Indians, who massacred twenty-two of the party. Mr. Clark, fortunately escaping, went to Sawyers
Bar, on Salmon Creek, and there engaged in mining, and remained till November 1855. He then
returned to his family at Eureka, and, after disposing of his interests there, came to Napa Valley,
where he located on a farm of one thousand acres, about eight miles above Napa, which he and his
family improved. This farm he still owns. In September, 1871, the old mercantile spirit coming to the
front once more he moved to Napa, and engaged in the hardware business, which he continued till
September, 1880. Mr. Clark was a member of the first Union Convention held in 1861, but has not
been an office-seeker, having always declined all nominations tendered him, including the nomination
for Governor, till the fall of 1880, when his temperance proclivities overcame his aversion to political
contests and he accepted the Prohibition nomination, and became a candidate for Congress, from the
Third District. Mr. Clark has been a member of the Independent Order of Good Templars for the last
fifteen years, and has, for nine years, been one of the trustees of the Good Templars Home for
Orphans, at Vallejo. During all the years that he has held the position of trustee, he has met every
three months with his fellow members, and strange to say, not one single jar of discord has ever
disturbed the harmony of that Board, of which he and Mr. W. H. Mills of the Sacramento Record-
Union, have been members since the Home was established. Mr. Clark has always been identified
with the best interests of the county. All other actions, however, being second and subservient to his
strong and ardent temperance principles. He has occupied almost every chair and held every position
in the Order of Good Templars, and was in 1878, elected a delegate to the Right Worthy Grand Lodge
of Good Templars, and attended that session in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1881, he was again elected
a delegate to attend the same body, to meet in Topeka, Kansas. March 13, 1842, he was united in
marriage to Cyrena Phillips of Miami County, Ohio, who still lives, happily filling the position of
grandmother. They have two children living, as follows: Tamenena De Los Clark and Cyrena Susie Clark
Willey.